Abstract: A system for removing soil gases, including radon, and moisture from the proximity of building foundations is disclosed. In one embodiment, a network of grooves is scored in the top surface of a cement slab foundation. Tubing with filtered openings for the inlet of gases and moisture is buried in the groove network with the openings at the top surface of the slab. The tubing is connected to a vacuum pump which discharges gases and moisture. When an impervious floor covering is placed on top of the cement slab, the vacuum system prevents blistering or bubbling and other failure of the flooring from accumulations of gases and moisture under it.In another embodiment, an array of tubes connected to the vacuum system passes through basement walls and is buried in the soil in proximity to a building foundation. Fluid collectors are provided at the ends of the buried tubes for gases and moisture diffusing into the collectors from the soil.

Abstract: A multiple conductor electric cable (10) having a plurality of conductors (12), each formed of a multi-filament tensile core (14) of unbonded aramid fibers (16). The conductors (12) further have at least a pair of tinsel conductor ribbons (18, 20), spirally wrapped in the same direction about tensile core (14). Further, conductors (12) are arranged in an orientation wherein the spiral wraps of conductor tinsel in each conductor (12) are in alternating directions from one conductor (12) to the next within a thermoplastic insulating jacket (22), which is further encased within polyester jacket (26).

Abstract: The invention is a linear electromagnetic motor which operates to reciprocate a pump plunger within a central pump barrel. The motor has a ferromagnetic armature annularly connected to the pump plunger, located in an annular space in the motor core about the pump plunger. The armature is itself annularly surrounded by a permanent polarizing ring magnet located between two motor drive coils. The motor operates by switching the polarizing magnetic flux of the ring magnet by a control magnetic flux created by electric current in the motor drive coils. On its backward end, the pump plunger is biased by a spring in the direction of its forward stroke. However, when the armature is latched by the magnet at its backward stroke location (distance A=0), the strength of the magnet overcomes the bias in this spring.

Abstract: A novel electrospray interface provides high sensitivity and signal stability for mass spectrometric detection of analytes in solvents with high water content including 100% water. The electrospray capillary tip section is heated close to the boiling point of the solvent. An approximately 20.degree. C. hotter airstream is also used. Its flow is coaxial and codirectional to the electrospray. With this arrangement, the analyte signal sensitivity and stability obtained with neat water is equal to that with neat methanol. The charged state (degree of protonation) of protonated peptides sprayed from neat water and the heated spray is essentially identical to that observed with unheated spray where the solvent was 80% methanol-20% water.

Abstract: A multiple option gallery, silhouette and target system having a remotely resettable silhouette or other target support apparatus which is operative to reset the target system merely by the pull of a small rope or cord. The apparatus includes a reset moment arm member and a reset bracket which are joined together and operable to simultaneously rotate as a unitary member about the longitudinal axis of a cross bar member when the rope or cord is pulled against the reset moment arm member. This motion forces the reset bracket against a plurality of silhouette target support posts which are also rotatably mounted on the cross bar member. This target system also includes the use of variable size disposable ring targets, horizontally movable permanent metal targets, or optional suspended silhouette targets and windage and elevation vericator targets useful to calibrate for wind shifts and temperature changes during a target practice session.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a liquid feed supplement to animals in measured quantity according to an established schedule within which both quantity dispensed and times when dispensed are user definable. Liquid feed is allowed to flow from a bulk storage vessel by lowering a transfer pipe a predetermined distance into the storage vessel, thereby allowing the liquid feed to gravity flow from the storage vessel to a feeding vessel. The control of dispensing time and the quantity of liquid feed dispensed is accomplished through the use of a microcomputer which can be programmed to enable the dispensing of liquid feed for two time periods in a 24-hour cycle.

Abstract: Embodiments of a retractable electric candle system are shown and described, each for installation into a window sill so that the candle rises out of the sill for use and retracts down into the space under the sill for storage. The candle system includes a base for attachment over an aperture drilled in the sill, a candle that slides up and down through the base and the sill, and a tube member into which the candle retracts. When a cover is removed from the base, a spring pops up the candle enough to allow the user to grasp it for lifting. A slot and pin mechanism cooperate to reversibly lock the candle into a raised position when the candle is lifted and rotated about 1/4 turn. Electrical contacts, wiring, and electrical tape are positioned to electrify the bulb or other display unit on top of the candle when the candle system is connected to a power source and when the candle is in the raised position.

Abstract: Embodiments of a cover for a truck bed are shown and described. A lever assembly rotates bi-directionally and parallel to a side of the truck bed to swing a roller above the truck bed. A tarp is attached to the truck bed and to the roller and is extended and retracted from over the truck bed when the lever assembly swings. A coiled spring inside the roller biases the roller to an extent that keeps the tarp taut when it is extended, rolls up the tarp as it is being retracted, and keeps the tarp tightly rolled after it is retracted to the one side of the truck. The lever assembly includes an arcuate member and a substantially coplanar arm. The lever assembly is bi-directionally rotated by a system in which a flexible connector has two sections that are attached to the arcuate member, extend in opposite directions around the arcuate member, and are pulled by a drive mechanism.

Abstract: The invention is a bar chord machine for stringed musical instruments with frets. The machine has a generally longitudinal frame made of two parallel spaced-apart rods with clamps for securing the frame next to and generally parallel to the neck of the stringed instrument. One rod acts as a pivot point for a plurality of lever presses which extend perpendicularly from the rod in spaced apart relationship out over the top of the fingerboard of the instrument. The other rod acts as a pivot stop for the lever presses, and as an attachment point for springs connected to the lever presses which bias them away from the fingerboard. The lever presses have a channel in their central underside for receiving a presser bar which is pivotally connected to the lever press and spring biased away from it. The presser bar has a pad on its bottom surface for pressing down uniformly on the instrument's strings near a fret.

Abstract: A suspended beverage infusion bag (10, 20) is disclosed. The bag has a cover (13, 23) which is two generally planar leaves (12, 22) separated by a fold line (14, 24). The fold line (14, 24) may be vertical or horizontal, depending on the style of the infusion bag. Both of the cover leaves (12, 22) have a downwardly-facing slot (11, 21) which fits over and fastens the cover (13, 23) to the rim (1) of a beverage cup (2), thereby holding the leaves (12, 22) in spaced-apart relationship on the cup rim (1). A porous filter bag (15, 25) is attached to the cover (13, 23); either along one of the filter bag's side surfaces (17, 27), or along its top edge, by a single glue line (31) on one side surface (18, 30) of a planar leave (12, 22). When one filter bag (15, 25)is used, it is attached to the cover (13, 23) near the fold line (14, 24). When two filter bags (15, 25) are used, they are attached to the cover near the side or bottom edges of the two leaves (12, 22).

Abstract: Various embodiments are shown and described, each of a vehicle crane unit for loading, unloading, and dumping objects from a vehicle and for moving objects that rest on the vehicle or off of the vehicle. The vehicle crane unit includes a vehicle horizontal base and a vertical frame that extends up from the base. A boom pivots on the vehicle and is held in various desired positions by stops that are attached to the vertical frame. The boom has a pulley wheel that can receive a winch-pulled cable that can be attached to an object or a container. By stopping the boom in various positions and taking in, letting out, or repositioning the cable, the vehicle crane unit pulls and lifts the object or container to a desired location. An optional container is designed to rest on and cooperate with the vehicle crane unit, for dumping contents from the container or for on-loading and off-loading the container with its contents.

Abstract: A system for containing oil in a containment tank received from a transformer bank for a hydroelectric power generating station. A capacitance proximity sensor is mounted at a predetermined height within the tank and is operative to sense the passage of an oil/water interface in close proximity to the sensor to generate an output control signal for controlling a solenoid operated valve for the tank to close the valve and prevent spillage of oil into the environment. Collected water can be drained from the tank to a point where the oil/water interface has been reduced to a predetermined height within the tank, thereby leaving adequate remaining oil containing capacity within the tank in the event of further oil discharge from a transformer.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a raptor protection unit for installation on a power pole crossbar are shown and described, each having a clamp system secure enough to hold a perch on the crossbar. Each embodiment includes two side-lock clamps, which each have a stationary C-shaped brace, for bracing against the top, a side, and the bottom of the crossbar, and an L-shaped side-lock, for exerting pressure on the opposing side of the crossbar. The two side-lock clamps may face the same direction or opposite directions. For embodiments with same-direction side-lock clamps, an optional bottom-lock clamp may be placed between the side-lock clamps, for exerting pressure on the bottom of the crossbar. The raptor protection unit includes a perch and/or a roost guard.

Abstract: A standard bent aluminum tube and nylon webbed lawn chair (1) is retrofitted with a pair of padded shoulder straps (15), a padded shoulder support (16), a fold down cargo platform (11) and a padded waist belt (19) so that when the chair is folded up into its storage position it will function as a backpack. The cargo platform (11) is pivotally attached to the bottom cross piece (2) which connects the back pair of leg uprights (4). The shoulder straps (15) are attached side by side in spaced apart relation across the upper and lower shoulder strap cross pieces (16 and 17), using detent pins or bolts (23). Upper shoulder strap cross piece (16) is fixed across the pair of aluminum tubes (5) which form the sides of the back of the folding lawn chair (1). Likewise, lower shoulder strap cross piece (17) is fixed across the pair of aluminum tubes (4) which form the back legs of the folding lawn chair (1 ).

Abstract: A sleeping bag carrying and storage enclosure (10) is disclosed and has as its two main components a sleeping bag cover (11) and automatic closure system (21). Sleeping bag cover (11) is configured to receive a standard rectangular sleeping bag (1) in its unrolled position and the automatic closure system (21) configured to latch automatically in response to the sleeping bag being rolled up into its normal storage position. The automatic closure system has strategically placed fabric hook and latch fasteners (22) and (23), more commonly known by its brand name VELCRO.TM.. Here, a pair of first portions of fabric hook and closure fastener (22) are fixed at points on the upper sky facing surface (16) of head panel portion (15), each toward the marginal side edges of the head panel portion.

Abstract: A behavior modification wristwatch (10) is disclosed which has a watch body (11) shaped in the form of an octagon, includes a face which is red in color and has the word "stop" printed on it to resemble a stop sign and thereby serve as a constant conscious and subconscious reminder to the user to stop his or her destructive behavior. Watch (10) includes three digital displays, a watch display (16) for displaying normal watch functions such as the time of day, the date, day of the week, alarm time, etc., a count-up display (17) for displaying elapsed time in days, hours and minutes for counting the time since the individual quit the destructive behavior, and a multi-character alpha display (18) for displaying words or phrases of positive reinforcement after certain elapsed periods of time.